A slew of individuals have been charges and $32 million worth of drugs have been taken off the street through Project Gainsborough. The OPP and London Police Services began the investigation back in June of 2020 after it became aware of large scale drug distribution in the London area. Detective Inspector Jim Walker said the legalization cannabis has not slowed the production of illegal cannabis, but rather given criminals another avenue to create more.
Three Tillsonburg residents were charged, and thousands of dollars worth of guns, vehicles, and cash were seized as well.
As a result of this investigation, police seized:
495 kilograms of illegal cannabis resin/oil;
7,166 kilograms of illegal cannabis bud;
Approximately 10,000 packages of illegal cannabis edibles;
2,773 kilograms of illegal cannabis shake;
185 kilograms of illegal cannabis shatter;
15,343 illegal cannabis plants;
65 kilograms of psilocybin;
124 grams of cocaine;
28 oxycodone pills;
50 hydromorphone pills;
Grow equipment valued at more than $653,000;
Six firearms and ammunition, including four handguns, a .22 cal rifle and a 12 gauge sawed off shotgun;
More than $53,000 CAD currency; and
Six vehicles as offence-related property, with a combined value of approximately $163,000.
The drugs seized in this investigation have an estimated street-value of more than $32 million.
A total of 21 people have been charged with 118 offences, including criminal organization related offences.